A06521:596
Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…
Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and preachings for the necessary instruction and edification of such, as hunger and seek after the perfect knowledge and inestimable glory which is in Christ Jesus, to the comfort and salvation of their souls. Englished by VV.G.Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and preachings for the necessary instruction and edification of such, as hunger and seeke after the perfect knowledge and inestimable glorie which is in Christ Iesu, to the comfort and saluation of their soules. Englished by VV.G.
London: printed by Thomas Vautroullier, 1578
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But in all things let us behave our selves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, &c. Here he describeth in order the signs & proper tokens of a Christian life, wherewith it ought to be adorned in outward conversation: Not meaning that one is made a Christian and godly hereby, but as he saith, that by these as by proper fruits and signs of Christianity, we should show our selves to be both, and behave our selves as the ministers of God, that is as Christians & godly men. And mark well that he saith: as the ministers of God. It may seem very strange, that the ministry of God consisteth in these, in many afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in prisons, in tumults, in watchings, in fastings, &c. Among these he numbereth not Masses, and prayers for the dead, or other trifles of feigned worship of God. He rehearseth those things that pertain to the true and right service of God, whereby the body is chastised, and the flesh tamed. Which is well to be noted, lest that any neglect fastings, watchings and labour, and make us count of them for that they do not justify. They bring not righteousness in deed, yet are they fruits of righteousness being obtained, wherein thou mayst be exercised, and whereby thou mayst keep thy flesh in subjection, and enforce it to do his duty.
But in all thinges let vs behaue our selues as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, &c. Here he describeth in order the signes & proper tokens of a Christian life, wherewith it ought to be adorned in outward conuersation: Not meaning that one is made a Christian and godly hereby, but as he sayth, that by these as by proper frutes and signes of Christianitie, we should shew our selues to be both, and behaue our selues as the ministers of God, that is as Christians & godly men. And marke well that he sayth: as the ministers of God. It may seeme very straunge, that the ministerie of God consisteth in these, in many afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in prisons, in tumults, in watchings, in fastings, &c. Among these he numbreth not Masses, and prayers for the dead, or other trifles of fained worship of God. He rehearseth those things that pertaine to the true and right seruice of God, whereby the body is chastised, and the flesh tamed. Which is well to be noted, lest that any neglect fastings, watchings and labour, and make us count of them for that they do not iustifie. They bring not righteousnes in deede, yet are they frutes of righteousnes being obtained, wherein thou mayst be exercised, and whereby thou mayst keepe thy flesh in subiection, and enforce it to do his dutie.